THE first wave of a feared flood of Romanian migrants arrived in Britain yesterday - all FOUR of them.

The men flew in from Bucharest hours after Romania and Bulgaria finally joined the EU at the start of 2007.

More than 500,000 people flooded into Britain when eight former Communist states joined the "club" in 2004.

But this time tight controls on the movement of workers are in place. Only those coming to fill gaps in the labour market and paying taxes will be admitted.

The Government has also launched a last-minute advertising campaign in the countries warning that those working illegally in Britain will be fined.

Cosmin Balaiti, 23, his friend Eugene Forea, 26, and horticulture student Florea Iohut, 23, flew into Heathrow on their way to work on a flower farm at Camborne, Surrey.

Dad of one Ion Barascu, 30, has permission to work on a building site.

Cosmin gave up his position as a mortgage advisor at a bank.

He said: "I've come to work for six months. I'm very happy to be here.

"Even though I was at a bank, the money didn't compare to what I'll earn in the UK."

Eugene is a qualified computer engineer.

Despite leaving his fiancŽe behind, he said: "I plan to stay here as long as I can."

Florea added: "I'm mostly here to work. I'll make so much more money. But I also want to see the country."

Ion said: "I've left my wife and child behind, but it'll be worth it as I can send them money. But I don't want to live here forever. My home is Romania."

Another Romanian on the Bucharest flight said: "Today is a wonderful day for our country. We're so happy we might have better lives now we're in the EU.

"Why shouldn't people come to Britain if they want to work?"

Hours earlier, tens of thousands of revellers in Romania and Bulgaria sang, danced and drank their way into 2007 and the EU with their biggest party since the fall of Communism 17 years ago.

Hundreds of hopeful migrants had queued outside the British embassies in Bucharest and the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

Outside, posters warned: "Don't come to Britain without a work permit". The ad campaign will run to March 30.

Bulgarians and Romanians working without permits face £1,000 fines. Firms employing them can be fined up to £5,000.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "Workers or employers tempted to break the rules should be aware penalties will be robustly enforced."

Mr Byrne insisted the Government still backed new countries joining the EU.

But he added the Government wanted to proceed cautiously in opening up its borders. He said: "We need to understand the impact from the last round of accessions before we take the next step.

"Through this, we'll ensure that migration is managed in the best interests of the country."

Budget airline Wizz Air starts direct flights from Bucharest to Luton on January 15.

Bus company Balkan Horn, which runs a twice weekly service from Varna and Sofia, is fully booked until January 15.

tom.parry@mirror.co.uk
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I don't even want to visit your country!

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